Thankfully, I've only ever been in here twice, and both of those times I was there out of choice…read moreand not anything mischief-related. If the lady who served me the first time I was in here is reading this, I'm sorry. More specifically I'm sorry for being a stupid drunken fresher and wasting half an hour of your time reporting a handbag stolen, only to go home and find it was exactly where I'd left it the night before after one too many cheap vodka and diet cokes. Although I didn't appreciate your lecture on binge drinking at the time, you were right. The second time was just the other day when Alex C and I found a purse that had clearly been stolen and relieved of any cash, before being flung out of the window of the bus that was passing us. Although I'm fairly sure the people designing the foyer of this station went out of their way to find the least obvious place to put the bell you need to ring for attention, when we eventually found it we were seen straight away, and the woman was really nice. Especially when she asked me if I'd "be willing to accept a reward if one were to be offered". Er, yes. Yes I would.

I'd like to say I haven't been here often, but I'm foreign, from a "black-listed" country. It…read moredoesn't sound as bad as it is, but it just means that I have to keep people pretty much informed of everything I do. I take this warning very seriously, going to St Leonard's Police Station everytime I move flat, change my degree, get a job, etc. Once, however, a woman who probably didn't mean any harm at all, decided that what I was doing was hilarious and was generally very discouraging. Which is always kinda shit when you find yourself in the position to be mocked because you're following rules they applied to your life, with the threat of spending 6 months in jail and paying them 5000 pounds if you don't. Apart from that one situation, I find they've generally been helpful and polite. I've been there to hand in found wallets and to get documents for visa applications and the such. If only I hadn't been mocked that once, I'd probably be much more willing to speak highly and positively of this police station. But, let's face it, it's a police station, and we all fear it a bit.

The police in St Andrews often get a bad reputation from the students. This seems to be partly…read morebecause those in contact with the police are those who are being told to behave from them, and as such, of course their reactions are likely to be negative. Having said that, St Andrews feels like one of the safest places in the UK and the police undoubtedly have some part to play in this. In all my time in St Andrews, the services I have had from the police have always been positive. They take calls seriously - problems with noisy neighbours are always dealt with efficiently and with anonymity. They often follow up services afterwards with calls to ensure that they can only improve. Additionally, going in to find information direct from the police station is always staffed by someone friendly and helpful. Overall, a practical service, but met with friendliness.

Limited opening hours to daytime only, no weekend service - not exactly your traditional local…read morepolice station. I've been lucky not to have need to contact the police regularly but when I do it has to be through a forgettable number - last time I think I had to go through Northumbria Police at Bedlington! It puzzles me because this is a sizeable building and a fair sized town, but it'll all be to do with budgets. I have seen more community police officers patrollign or walking the streets lately, trying to keep an eye on spots where there is regular night time trouble.

They do what they can, under difficult circumstances but I would like to see more officers on the…read morebeat. Nothing deters crime and criminals that the presence of a police officer. Perhaps if the cops had less paperwork they'd have more time to police.

Dunbar police station is a small office but the cops do there best and are now being helped by…read morecommunity police and a mobile cctv van.